Two cysteine protease inhibitors, EhICP1 and 2, localized in distinct compartments, negatively regulate secretion in Entamoeba histolytica

The enteric protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica uniquely possesses two isotypes of ICPs, a novel class of inhibitors for cysteine proteases. These two EhICPs showed a remarkable difference in the ability to inhibit cysteine protease (CP) 5, a well-established virulence determinant, whereas they equally inhibited CP1 and CP2. Immunofluorescence imaging and cellular fractionation showed that EhICP1 and EhICP2 are localized to distinct compartments. While EhICP1 is localized to the soluble cytosolic fraction, EhICP2 is targeted from lysosomes to phagosomes upon erythrocyte engulfment. Overexpression of either EhICP1 or EhICP2 caused reduction of intracellular CP activity, but not the amount of CP, and decrease in the secretion of all major CPs, suggesting that both EhICPs are involved in the trafficking and/or interference with the major CP activity. These data indicate that the two EhICPs, present in distinct subcellular compartments, negatively regulate CP secretion, and, thus, the virulence of this parasite.